Maximize your reach: Google My Business for real estate agents

A strong online presence is a must for real estate agents like you in this rapidly evolving digital world. Google Business Profile (GBP)—previously called Google My Business (GMB)—makes managing your visibility on Google Search and Google Maps easier, helping potential clients find you when they need an agent.

However, many agents still overlook this powerful tool. In fact, Birdeye’s 2024 report on the state of Google Business Profiles revealed that only 64% of businesses have verified their GBPs, meaning a significant number of businesses are missing out on valuable local search visibility.

By setting up and optimizing your Google Business Profile, you can boost your visibility, connect with clients, and improve your local SEO—all key to growing your real estate business.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to set up and maximize your GBP to attract more buyers and sellers in your area.

Why Google Business Profile is important for local real estate agents

An optimized Google Business Profile is a powerful tool for real estate agents, offering multiple advantages that can help boost their online presence and improve client interactions. Here’s why it’s crucial:

1. Increased online visibility

With 83.10% of website traffic coming from Google, a fully optimized business profile significantly improves the chances of appearing in relevant local search results and Google Maps when prospective clients search for real estate-related services in your area.

2. Establishing trust

A complete and updated profile, with positive reviews from past clients, can build your reputation. This shows potential clients that you are reliable and trustworthy.

3. Increased client interaction

Google Business Profile enables clients to engage with you directly through the Q&A section, reviews, and direct messaging. These tools help you connect with clients and improve their experience.

4. Boosted SEO performance

Google values accurate NAP details, positive reviews, and relevant keywords when ranking local search results. By optimizing your profile, you improve your relevance, distance, and prominence, which enhances your local SEO ranking and attracts more clients in your area.

5. Effective lead generation

A Google Business Profile helps track actions like phone calls, website visits, and requests for directions. This data gives insights into client interactions and helps refine your lead-generation strategies.

By making the most of Google My Business, real estate agents can boost their online presence, build trust with clients, and understand what potential buyers and sellers are looking for—all of which help grow their business.

Key steps for setting up your Google Business Profile

To maximize you online visibility and attract more buyers and sellers, follow these steps to set up your Google Business Profile for real estate:

1. Claim your Google Business Profile website

If your real estate business is already listed on Google, you’ll need to claim it. If not, create a new profile. To claim or add your business, search for your business on Google and follow the verification steps to confirm that you are the business owner. If you’re an agent working under a brokerage, check with your office to see if you should create a separate profile or be added to the main brokerage listing.

2. Add complete and accurate profile information

Enter important details such as your business name, office address, phone number, business hours, and website. Ensure that the information you provide is consistent across all your online platforms to help improve your SEO.

3. Showcase your listings with high-quality photos and videos

Upload professional photos of your office, real estate properties, your team members, and happy clients to make your profile stand out. Google also allows you to upload short videos—so consider visual tours of properties or quick information about your services to engage potential clients.

4. Collect reviews

Customer reviews are essential for building your online reputation as a real estate agent. Encourage satisfied home buyers and sellers to share their positive experiences on your Google Business Profile, focusing on specific aspects like your negotiation skills, market knowledge, or customer service. Using tools like Birdeye Reviews AI can streamline the collection and management of these reviews. Make sure to respond to all reviews, as this shows you value client feedback and are dedicated to maintaining strong relationships.

5. Use the Q&A feature

The Q&A section is valuable for potential clients looking to learn more about your real estate services. Encourage inquiries about your listings, the buying and selling process, or local market trends. Be proactive in responding to these questions with clear and informative answers. This enhances the client experience and demonstrates your expertise and commitment to helping clients navigate their real estate journeys.

Completing these steps will create a strong Google Business Profile that will help you attract clients and boost your real estate business.

Best practices for optimizing your Google Business Profile

Optimizing your Google Business Profile is key to succeeding in the real estate market. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your profile:

1. Write a compelling business description

Craft a concise, engaging description of your real estate services. Use keywords such as “real estate agent in [city]” or “top realtors for [neighborhood]” to improve your search visibility and help clients easily understand what you offer.

2. Keep your profile updated regularly

Your Google Business Profile should be a living, breathing part of your marketing strategy. Regularly update your listings, including new property listings, changes in office hours, and seasonal promotions. The more active your profile, the higher your chances of appearing in relevant searches.

3. Create posts about new listings and market updates

Use the Google Posts feature to share timely updates about new property listings, open houses, and market trends. Regularly posting informative content keeps your audience engaged and positions you as an authority in the real estate market. Highlighting local market insights can attract potential buyers and sellers looking for a knowledgeable agent.

4. Optimize for voice search results

With the rise of voice search, optimizing your Google Business Profile for voice queries is important. Incorporate natural language phrases that potential clients might use when searching for real estate services, such as “find a realtor near me” or “best real estate agents in [city].” This will help you appear in relevant search results, catering to users increasingly using voice-activated devices to find local services.

5. Leverage Google Ads to boost visibility

Integrating Google Ads with your Google Business Profile lets you advertise your real estate services and listings directly in local search results. By running Call Ads or Local Services Ads (LSAs), you can increase your visibility and generate more qualified leads in your service area.

Following these optimization tips will enhance your visibility and improve client engagement, making it easier to grow your real estate agency.

The impact of local SEO and Google Business Profile on real estate success

Google Business Profile is an important part of local SEO. It is crucial for real estate agents to appear in the top results when potential clients search for real estate services near them. Here’s how it works:

• Local relevance: Google determines relevance based on the content and keywords on your profile. Including terms like “buy homes in [city]” and “top realtor in [neighborhood]” will boost your chances of ranking in local search queries.
• Proximity: The closer your business is to the person searching, the higher the chances of showing up. This is why maintaining accurate location data is vital for real estate agents.
• Prominence: The more positive reviews, photos, and engagement your profile receives, the more Google will promote your listing as a prominent local business.

Combined elements can significantly enhance an agent’s visibility, but many still struggle to harness this potential.

To illustrate the impact of local SEO and an optimized Google Business Profile, let’s explore how Birdeye transformed Fairlawn Real Estate’s approach to local search success.

How Birdeye transformed Fairlawn Real Estate’s Local SEO

Fairlawn Real Estate used Birdeye’s Gen AI-powered tools to enhance their local SEO and Google Business Profile, significantly improving their reputation management. With Insights AI, they identified key trends in resident feedback, allowing them to proactively address issues and improve satisfaction. This streamlined review management and personalized responses helped boost their online presence.

Birdeye’s Competitors AI also gave Fairlawn valuable insights into market performance and resident sentiment. They could stay ahead of competitors by aligning their operations with these insights. Integrating local SEO with review management helped strengthen their digital presence, driving higher occupancy rates and greater customer loyalty.

Boost your real estate agency with Google Business Profile

Setting up and optimizing your Google Business Profile is essential for real estate agents who want to improve their online presence. Following the steps in this guide and regularly updating your profile can increase visibility, attract more clients, and improve your SEO ranking. With the right setup and ongoing engagement, a Google Business Profile can help you grow your real estate agency and stay ahead of the competition.

Frequently asked questions on Google My Business for real estate agents

Enhance your Google Business Profile with Birdeye

Optimizing your Google My Business profile is essential for improving your online presence, and Birdeye makes this process easy. With Birdeye’s integrated solutions, you can effectively manage, optimize, and grow your Google Business Profile.

Many businesses, including real estate businesses, rely on Birdeye to:

• Easily manage listings: Birdeye Listings AI ensures your business information stays consistent and accurate across multiple platforms, helping you maintain a strong online presence.
• Collect and manage reviews: Birdeye’s review management tool enables you to collect and respond to Google reviews from a single dashboard, streamlining your moderation and client engagement.
• Simplify customer communication: Birdeye Messaging AI lets you communicate directly with clients through your Google Business Profile in real time, improving client interaction.
• Analyze insights: Birdeye Insights AI analyzes your Google Business data and reviews, helping you understand customer sentiment and gain valuable feedback on your services.
• Leverage Social AI: Birdeye’s Social AI helps you manage your social media presence, ensuring your content is engaging and relevant. This can attract more followers and drive traffic to your profile, enhancing your visibility and brand reputation in the real estate market.

Watch a demo today to discover how Birdeye can help optimize your Google Business Profile and grow your business.